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ADDRESS 



DELIYERED AT THE 



UNIVERSITY CHAPEL 

Georgia Day, February 12, 1914 



Georgia: The Empire State 
of the South 



MISS MILDRED LEWIS RUTHERFORD, ATHENS. GA. 
STATE H1STORIAN. U. D. C. 




The Students of the University, State Normal, Lucy 
Cobb Institute, and the City High School 



V 



Fi 

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IN t DEX 

Page 

Georgia and her Founder, Oglethorpe 3 

Georgia as a Royal Provinee 9 

Georgia's Agricultural, Minerał and other Possibil ; ties — 9 

Georgia's Great Men 13 

Georgia's Patriots in Colonial Days 16 

Georgia's Patriots in Revolutionary Days 17 

Georgia's Patriots in the War of 1812. 18 

Georgia's Patriots in War with Mexico 19 

Georgia's Patriots in War between the States.- 19 

Know your State - - 21 

Georgia's Capitals, Seals and Flags. 22 

Georgia's Edueational History 24 

Georgia of Today 27 



The White Kouse. 



[2 



Georgia: The Empire State 

I am never so happy as when talking to Georgia boys and 
girls about Georgia, for I am a Georgian frora the crown of my 
head to the soles of my feet — Georgia-born and Georgia-bred — 
of parents Georgia-born and bred — and I love "The Old Red 
Hills of Georgia" as dearly as Henry R. Jackson who wrote so 
beautifully of them. 

We truły have a state of which we may rightly boast, and 
boasting is commendable, provided we do not claim what justly 
belongs to another. 

Georgia and her Founder Oglethorpe. 

It is strange, but I think it is true, that we are indirectly in- 
debted to an old Roman architect, Pollio, who lived in the time 
of Julius Caesar, for the founding of Georgia. His book on 
architecture was read by Robert Castell, an English architect of 
the 18th century, and he was so charmed with it that he de- 
termined to translate it into English and illustrate it with draw- 
ings that Pollio had described. 

Castell really became so infatuated with this work of transla- 
tion that he neglected his business and even his family for it. 
The book proving a financial failure, involved him in debt and 
under England's law at that time, placed him for life in the 
Debtors' Prison. He was so financially reduced that he was not 
able to pay the fee demanded by the jailer and was sent to the 
smallpox ward where he contracted the disease and died. This 
man was the personal friend of Sir James Edward Oglethorpe, a 
member of the English Parliament. When he heard of his 
friend's death and realized ho w he was sacrificed, he determined 
to investigate these prisons and asked Parliament to place him 
upon a committee for that purpose. This really led him to 
establish a colony of these debtors in the New World. 

On June 9, 1732, a patent was asked for and granted to settle 
a colony, and twenty-one Trustees were appointed to serve twenty- 
one years. 

Georgia's charter differed from that of any of the other colonies. 
The Trustees were not allowed to hołd any interest in any land or 
to derive any benefit from the settlement of the colony. They 

13] 



4 Georgia'. The Empire State of the South 

believed that it was far better to give away this land than to hołd 
it for sale and speculation. They were forbidden to allow any 
person to own morę than 500 acres of the public land and that 
only upon certain conditions. Labor was the only capi tal these 
settlers had. No lazy person could own land in Georgia. Monopo- 
li es and speculations were forbidden so one may see why the 
Yazoo Fraud of later datę was so resented by Georgians. There 
were no contentions between the proprietors and tenants of the 
Georgia colony as in the other colonies. 

It was on November 17, 1732, that there sailed from Gravesend, 
England, a smali vessel of 200 tons, the "Annę" — better known 
to us as "The Good Ship Annę" — bearing these colonists to the 
New World. There were on board this ship 130 souls, men, 
women and children, under the command of John Thomas, 
Master. Their leader and appointed gwernor was James Edward 
Oglethorpe. Thirty-five families were represented in this com- 
pany and the heads of these families had been recently released 
from the Debtors' Prison. Oglethorpe chose only those who 
were men of honor, whose chief sin seemed to have been that 
they could not pay their debts. Were American laws so stringent 
today I fear some of us here present would be in the Debtors' 
Prison. 

There shone upon these pale, emaciated faces a new light, for 
they felt that they were being given another chance in life. 

This Georgia colony was the only one of the thirteen colonies 
that was founded in a purely unselfish spirit. 

It was founded under Protestant auspices, for they had with 
them their chaplain, Rev. Henry Herbert of the Church of 
England. They had no disagreement with the home church as 
the Plymouth Rock colony; they were not fleeing from persecu- 
tions as the Roman Catholics of Maryland, and the Quakers of 
Pennsylvania and the Huguenots of South Carolina; nor were 
they seeking wealth in the New World as the Jamestown colony; 
nor better trade and commerce as the Dutch of New York and 
the Swedes of New Jersey. 

Oglethorpe was bringing them to this country to help them to 
help others. This was the only American colony for which 
Parliament ever voted money. 

The motto of the colony was Non sibi sed aliis (Not for them- 
selves but for others) and this should always be Georgia's spirit. 
If this spirit is not shown we may be surę that there is some 
alien blood in our veins. 



Georgia: The Empire State of the South 5 

The colony was named for George II., who granted the charter. 

American history whether written by a Southern or a Northern 
historian has been most unjust to Oglethorpe. John Smith, 
John Winthrop, Henry Hudson, Lord Baltimore, William Penn, 
Roger Williams and others have been exalted, and they should 
be, but Oglethorpe, the founder of the "Baby Colony," greatest 
of them all, has been given stinted praise. I do not say this 
because I am a Georgian, but for the very truth of history. 

Oglethorpe was not only a philanthropist, but he was a soldier, 
a statesman, a politician, a scholar, a man of social influence 
and a Christian gentleman. 

As a philanthropist, Alexander Pope and other English writers 
extolled his "strong benevolence of soul." 

As a soldier, when twenty-five years of age, he was a member of 
the Queen's Guard, he was later aide-de-camp to Prince Eugene; 
he distinguished himself in the wars with the Turks; he was Major 
General of the British Army, and he was offered the command of 
the British troops in America at the time of the Revolutionary 
war, although then nearly ninety years old. As a statesman, he 
was for thirty-two years a member of the English Parliament, 
and his opinions were eagerly sought. 

As a politician, who morę astutely could have won his case with 
Parliament in pleading for the release of those debtors from 
prison? Notice how he appealed to the selfish side of human 
naturę: it would be morę economical to have them be self-support- 
ing in America than to remain an expense for life to the English 
government; it would greatly increase England's trade and 
commerce to have another colony founded; it would also greatly 
strengthen the other English colonies in America. 

As a scholar and a man of social influence, the men and women 
of letters were his intimate friends and companions — such men 
for instance as Samuel Johnson, Edmund Burkę, 01iver Gold- 
smith, Davy Garrick, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Hannah Morę and 
others with whom he mingled daily. 

He was a true gallant. Do you recall what Hannah Morę said 
of her new admirer, General Oglethorpe? 

He was brave and daring. He studied war in the school of 
Marlborough. Recall his bravery when dealing with the Indians 
and the Spaniards, and do not forget Bloody Marsh! He was 
tactful and trustful. Remember how he treated Tomochichi and 
the other Indians, trusting them as his only escort on long and 
perilous journeys. 



6 Georgia: The Empire State of the South 

He was tnie and loyal to every trust. When offered the com- 
mand of the British troops in America, he refused because he 
loved the people of Georgia too well to try to coerce them. 
"They are my people," he said, "You carmot subdue them by 
force, they demand justice." 

In the fifteenth century Sebastian Cabot had taken land in 
America in the name of England and this land, now Georgia, was 
part of that tract. The Carolinas claimed it and the Lords 
Proprietors had granted part of it in 1717 to Sir Robert Mont- 
gomery in order to establish his Margravate of Azilia. He had 
described it as a veritable Paradise, "the most delightful country 
of the Universe." He said in that land "the flowers bloomed 
earlier" — those must have been our yellow jasmine, wild honey- 
suckle, dogwood and violets; there "the birds sang sweeter" — 
those must have been our mocking birds and thrushes; there 
"the water was colder and purer" — that must have been our 
mountain streams and springs; and there "the air was always 
balmy, and winter was nbt known" — thafs our "Sunny Georgia!" 

This grant of land extended "from the Altamaha to the Savan- 
nah rivers as far as the tide ran in," then westward from the 
heads of these rivers until it reached the sea. So you see that 
Georgia once extended from sea to sea. Montgomery^ scheme 
failed, but Oglethorpe remembering what he had said, applied 
for this tract of land when organizing his colony. 

Twenty-one Trustees were appointed to serve for twenty-one 
years without remuneration — so there was no selfish interest 
there. 

Oglethorpe used his own money, and his personal influence 
with his wealthy friends to secure the means to finance the under- 
taking. He furnished his own stateroom and paid his own farę on 
shipboard. 

The Annę anchored at Charleston, S. C., January 13, 1733, after 
a three-month sail, having had propitious winds. Governor 
Craven and the people of the Carolinas received the new colonists 
most graciously and extended that hospitality so characteristic 
of true Carolinians. This little colony was able later to stand as a 
barrier between the Spaniards and the Carolinas. From Charles- 
ton the colony sailed to Beaufort and there Oglethorpe, ac- 
companied by Col. William Buli, sailed southward to find a good 
location for a settlement. At Yamacraw Bluff they left the ship. 
Tomochichi, the aged Indian chief, received them kindly. Through 
an interpreter, Mary Musgrove, the Indian Empress Consapo- 



Georgia: The Empire State of the South 7 

nakeeso, whose father was a white man, Oglethorpe madę known 
his wishes and intentions. The-old Indian chief was pleased with 
the spirit of Oglethorpe and was ready to receive the colonists 
kindly. 

There were remnants of many tribes in this territory — the 
Creeks, the Cherokees, the Catawbas, the Chickasaws, the 
Catoosas, and others, but the first two tribes dominated the rest. 
The Creeks held the lower part of the tract, and the Cherokees 
the upper. They differed very greatly in personal appearance — 
the Creeks were smali of stature and the Cherokees large. The 
Creek women were better looking than the Cherokees. They had 
delicate features, dark-brown skin, high foreheads, and large 
black eyes. The Cherokee women were tali, with irregular features, 
dark-brown skin, and Iow foreheads but bright happy faces. 
Among Georgia's charms are the many beautiful and musical 
Indian names still retained in Georgia. 

Oglethorpe, after laying out the streets for his new city, which 
he named Savannah from the river, returned for the rest of the 
colony. They reached Savannah January 31, 1733, by the old 
calendar but February 12, by the Gregorian. They landed and 
spread their tents and the following day began to build their 
houses. Oglethorpe continued to live in his tent and had no 
other home until Frederica was settled; then he built a smali 
house for himself. There was not a selfish thought in this great 
man's heart. 

It meant a great deal to plan for the establishment of a new 
colony and to bring it to a new country; but it meant far morę to 
plant it among savages already suspicious of the white man, 
and to succeed in gaining their respect and holding their friend- 
ship and securing their aid, and this is what Oglethorpe did, and 
it reąuired wisdom, courage, prudence, large experience and 
Christian charity. 

Oglethorpe never once took advantage of the ignorance of the 
Indians. His methods were simple and loving. He showed that 
the white man could be just, fair, honorable and true. Under his 
rule there was no tomahawking, no massacres by the Indians, 
no persecutions of religious sects. 

The colonists were delighted with their new home and wrote 
back for their friends to come to Georgia, saying, "It is a wonder- 
ful land, one scarcely knows when summer ends and winter 
begins, when winter ends and springtime comes. The soil is so 
rich — all that is necessary is to scratch it and plant the seed and 



8 Georgia: The Empire Stałe of the South 

it yields one hundred fold easily. Food is so cheap. The Indians 
will bring you a turkey weighing forty-seven pounds for a six- 
pence (12J cents), and a deer for two shillings (50 cents). The 
flowers bloom all the time and the birds sing continuously — it is a 
wonderful land." 

The colony was added to in a short time by other settlers, 
— Salzburghers, who were Lutherans, Moravians, Scotch High- 
landers, Huguenots, many Hebrews, Quakers and Roman 
Catholics. 

Oglethorpe put the people to clearing the land in order to build 
palisades for protection and houses to live in and preparing the 
soil to plant seed for crops. He was a fine organizer! At the end 
of a year he returned to England to make his report to the Trustees 
and to secure other colonists. Tomochichi accompanied him, 
with his wife, Scenawki, their adopted son Toonahowi and some 
chiefs. 

I do not believe any of you know to whom the colony was 
entrusted in Oglethorpe's absence — Thomas Causton, a man 
rarely spoken of in history though he managed the colony well. 

The Indians returned after four months but Oglethorpe re- 
mained longer. When he returned he brought back with him 125 
Moravians and a large number of the best English families, among 
them the Wesleys. Charles became his secretary and John began 
to preach to the Indians. Major Horton, a man of family and 
social position, who settled Jekyl Island, was also among the 
ship's 225 passengers. To each new comer was given ten acres of 
land, provided one hundred white mulberry trees would be 
planted. Whitfield, the great preacher came later. 

How fortunate we are to have had such a founder as James 
Oglethorpe. We can well understand why "Wisdom, Justice, 
Moderation" was later put upon our seal. 

He believed in philanthrophy — the first Orphan Asylum in the 
United States was built under his administration. 

He believed in temperance — he ruled rum from the colony and 
all spiritous liąuors, except winę, realizing that liąuor makes a 
feeble folk. 

He believed in liberty of conscience, liberty of speech and 
liberty of person — he ruled slavery from the colony. He believed 
in work — he wanted no lazy people in Georgia, knowing that 
laziness would beget discontent. 

He believed in having laws and enforcing them — therefore 
Georgia was madę a military colony, the first and only colony 
that was. 



Georgia: The Empire State of the South 9 

He believed in God's Word, and he had it taught to those who 
could not read. The first Sunday School in the world John 
Wesley established in Savannah. 

He believed in missions and sent John Wesley to teach the 
Indians of God and His Word. 

He believed in education and had school houses built before 
churches. 

He had great executive ability. He begged his people to 
be prudent and upright. He said, "I hope through your example 
Georgia may prove a blessing not a curse." 

Do you wonder that when the Revolution came Georgia was 
the most prosperous of all the colonies? 

The ten best years of Oglethorpe's life were given to Georgia. 
He returned to England in 1743 feeling that the colony could 
take care of itself. Soon afterward he married the daughter of 
Sir Nathan Wright who had been Lord Chancellor of England 
under William III. 

All great workers and reformers have their enemies who are 
jealous of their success, so Oglethorpe had his. Lieut. Cook 
maligned him and criticised his policy. Oglethorpe demanded an 
investigation of these charges and was publicly cleared. We 
hear of Oglethorpe in history but the name of Cook is not promi- 
nent save in connection with the man he maligned. 

William Stephens succeeded Oglethorpe as Governor, and he it 
was who introduced slaves, realizing that unless slavery was 
permitted Georgia could not cope with the other colonies. Henry 
Parker succeeded Stephens. 

Georgia as a Royal Province. 

In 1752 Georgia was madę a free, sovereign and independent 
Province. There were only six of the original Trustees living 
at that time. When the Trustees surrendered their charter every 
debt had been paid, every claim had been settled. Then the 
Trustees destroyed the seal and turned the colony over as a Royal 
Province. The King appointed the governor and the people were 
allowed to have an Assembly after the order of the English 
Parli ament. 

Captain Reynolds, a naval officer, was the first governor of the 
Province. His military rule was a failure. Governor Ellis suc- 
ceeded him. I do not think that history has been just to Governor 
Ellis. He divided the Province into eight parishes and adopted 



10 Georgia: The Empire State of the South 

that headright policy that gave to every małe 200 acres of land 
and 50 additional acres for every child. This, as some one has 
said, "placed the rock of conscious independence beneath our 
feet, and the crown of industrial glory upon our head." Then 
too it was Governor Ellis' wise forethought that kept Georgia 
from being involved in those French and Indian wars. i 

This may seem to you a long and tiresome history of Georgia 
as a colony, but there are facts here which every Georgia boy and 
girl should know. 

Now to Georgia as a State. 

Georgia's Agricultural, Minerał and other Possibilities. 

Georgia is a wonderful state! How I wish I had time to tell you 
of all her greatness! 

She lies in the same latitude as the Holy Land and there is not a 
tree, shrub, plant, vegetable, fruit, flower, grain, or nut, grown in 
any part of the United States, that cannot be grown in Georgia. 
There are nine climate belts in the United States and Georgia has 
eight of them. 

While her mountains are tipped with snów in the north boys 
and girls are sporting in the tepid sea waves in the south. While 
we are growing apples, persimmons, chestnuts, chinąuepins, 
walnuts and hickory nuts in the north, we are growing oranges, 
bananas, pineapples, limes and lemons in the south. 

Her woods are susceptible of the highest polish and her curly 
mapie and curly pine cannot be excelled. She has thousands of 
miles of pine forest and these trees possess great medicinal proper- 
ties and furnish many useful products. From the root and bark 
we get creosote, alcohol, lampblack and charcoal. From the 
tree itself we get turpentine in resinous form and this is one of 
God's great gifts to man. A Georgia man, Charles Herty, has 
learned to cup the trees to secure the resin with out destroying 
the trees, so our forests are being conserved. Georgia's lumber 
trade is very valuable and while we do not have as large saw 
mills as Louisiana and Texas, we have millions of money in this 
industry. But pine trees are not all we have. There are our oaks — 
so many varieties, our water oak being one of the most beautiful 
of all trees. Then we have the mapie, the elm, the poplar, the 
ash, the dogwood, the osage orange, the mulberry, the beech, the 
sycamore, the locust, the Lombardy poplar, the magnolia, the bay 
and many, many others. 



Georgia: The Empire State of the South 11 

Georgia's hillsides abound with minerals. Beneath her surface 
are found coal, iron, lead, silver, gold, copper, corundum, asbestos, 
slate, ochrę, mica, plumbago, tale, gnełss, sandstones of all kinds, 
bauxite — the basis of aluminum — besides innuraerable other 
minerals. Her minerał springs too, are valuable — iron, lithia, 
sulphur, alum and others, not to mention our artesian wells so 
free and abundant, giving the purest of water. Then Georgia's 
clays for making porcelain, terra cotta, pottery, and enamelled 
brick — these clays can be found almost anywhere in the state. 
Then crystals of amethyst and ąuartz in large quantities and 
in smaller ąuantities, rubies, emeralds, garnets, sapphires, and in 
rare cases diamonds; Tiffany bought our blue diamond minę; but 
we have no real diamond mines as Arkansas. Indian arrow heads, 
the finest to be found, are in Georgia. 

Our state excels in marble, and Georgia marble has stood every 
test and is acknowledged now to surpass even that of Vermont. 
The largest błock of marble ever ąuarried in the United States 
came from a Georgia quarry and is in the State Capitol at St. 
Paul, Minn. Many of the most beautiful marble buildings and 
monuments of our land are of Georgia marble. 

Georgia's granite is of the best quality and very abundant. 
We have in Stone Mountain a geological monstrosity. It is seven 
miles in circumference solid stone — nothing like it in the world. 
Mr. Venable has given to the Atlanta Chapter, U. D. C., through 
Mrs. C. Helen Piane, a perpendicular side of it upon which the 
Daughters of the Confederacy may have carved an heroic figurę 
of the Confederate soldier. Think of it — the greatest monument 
in the world will one day testify to the heroism of those men who 
gave their lives in defense of home and States' rights. 

Then Georgia's water power, millions of horse power and the 
half has not yet been hamessed. Tallulah Falls alone if rightly 
used could light and heat the state. 

Then Georgia's fish! The Ogeechee shad is the finest in the 
world and our mountain trout and bass and bream and perch and 
many other varieties are all abundant and unsurpassed. 

Georgia's islands abound with wild gamę. Our one and only 
Okefinokee Swamp is fuli of it, and one can find any thing there 
except elephants and tigers. There are plenty of deer, bears, 
panthers, wild turkeys, ducks, snipe, partridges, wood chucks, 
and other gamę. Then what about Georgia "possum" and "Brer 
rabbit"? 

What shall be said of Georgia's crops? We need not discuss 



12 Georgia: The Empire State of the South 

old King Cotton, for every one knows that Georgia takes the 
lead there, and if Texas does produce morę bales of cotton we 
must remember that Texas is so many times larger. There are 
the grain crops — wheat, rye, oats, barley, rice, clover, casava, 
hay, indigo, sorghum and sugar cane. Then our corn, potatoes 
(sweet and Irish), peas and Georgia "goobers." What of our 
melons and other fruit? No watermelon is finer than our Georgia 
watermelon. It takes 10,000 cars to move this crop annually out 
of the state. Next to Rocky Ford our cantaloupes are the best. 
In tobacco we excel — Sumatra tobacco took the prize at Paris 
Exposition. Nearly all the wrapping tobacco used in the United 
States comes from Georgia. Then our peaches — the Elberta, 
which they say a woman planted, the Belle of Georgia, the 
Chinese cling, the Indian peach, the White English peach and 
others. What of our apples? At the International Exposition, 
Spokane, Washington, the Georgia apples, for best variety, took 
the prize. The wine-sap raised about Tallulah Falls and Mountain 
City is an apple that cannot be excelled. What of our berries? 
We have strawberries, raspberries, whortleberries, gooseberries, 
blackberries, and currants. Then we have cherries, plums, pears — 
remember our Le Conte pear — apricots, figs, pomegranates, 
Ogeechee limes, persimmons, grapes, muscadines and scupper- 
nongs. Then our pecan industry is growing amazingly and 
besides we have our other nuts. Really and truły Georgia can 
produce everything any one needs to wear or to eat, and also can 
produce tea and coffee to drink. 

Why, think of it, Georgia farm products brought into Georgia 
in 1913 $360,000,000, and this did not include cotton. What 
Georgia has done Georgia can do and morę. 

The best roads in any Southern state are in Georgia — 22,000 
miles of improved roads, and Ciarkę County fumishes at hand 
every materiał for making the best road. Georgia has morę 
automobiles than any other state. 

When they wanted wood to make those six frigates during 
the War of 1812 did they not send to Georgia for it? 

When California needed yam slips, did she not send to Georgia 
for them? 

Did you know that the best varieties of wheat now grown in 
the South came from seed sent by our Georgia missionaries? 

Do you know that Georgia has the greatest diversity of soil, 
and was the first state to diversify crops? She received the prize 
at the St. Louis Exposition. 



Georgia-. The Empire State of the South 13 

Did you know that we have land in Georgia upon which six 
crops a year can be raised? 

Yes, Georgia is a great state and she will continue great if you 
will do your part to make her great. 

Georgia's Great Men. 

Now if Georgia is so rich in those things that go to the suste- 
nance of the inner man, and the things that clothe the outer man, 
what about the man himself? Cali the roli of jurists. Where 
can morę distinguished judges and lawyers be found than those of 
Georgia. Cali the roli of statesmen — those who have guided the 
hełm of state at home and abroad — and find, if you can, any 
greater. Cali the roli of poets. Can greater than our Siclney 
Lanier be found, not to name the many other poets of renown 
that Georgia may claim? Do not forget our poets of optimism — 
Stanton, Loveman, and Bickers. Cali the roli of historians. 
Did not George Bancroft, the greatest of all American historians, 
place Charles Colcock Jones as one of the finest in the land? 
Then think of the many histories that have come from the brains 
of our Georgia men and women. Has any state any where given 
another Joel Chandler Harris? Surely "Uncle Remus" is uniąue 
in literaturę. Think of our eminent divines, teachers, authors, 
whether novelists, poets, humorists, dialect writers, journalists, 
writers of short stories, business men of affairs, soldiers, both of 
army and navy, inventors (and don't forget the cotton gin, the 
sewing machinę, the steamboat, and the measuring machinę), 
musicians, scientists, physicians, and all others. Has any one 
done morę to relieve suffering humanity than our Dr. Crawford 
W. Long? Has not our Dr. Battey revolutionized surgery by his 
efforts? Then our philanthropists in all departments of life. 
Can we ever forget our Samuel Inman of Atlanta? What state 
has furnished greater orators than our Forsyth, Benjamin H. Hill 
and Henry Grady, besides a host too great to mention? 

Was not William H. Crawford the confidential adviser of 
Thomas Jefferson? Was he not the leader of thought to Madison, 
and Secretary of War and Treasurer under Monroe and Madison? 
Was he not Ambassador to France, and the only man that Na- 
poleon said he ever bowed to twice? Was he not nominated 
for President of the United States and would undoubtedly have 
been elected had not his health failed? 

Was not John Forsyth a very great orator whose eloąuence is 



14 Georgia: The Empire State of the South 

said to have been irresistible? Was he not a very Apollo in 
appearance? Has any state produced a lawyer superior in elo- 
quent pleading to our Berrien? Did not Wilson Lumpkin hołd 
every office in the gift of the state? Did not George R. Gilmer 
unitę every private and public grace? Has there ever been a 
stronger advocate of States' Rights than Governor Troup? Would 
that we had morę like him today to stem this tide of Nationalism 
that is sweeping over our state. Did he not defy President John 
Quincy Adams when he attempted to interfere with Georgia's 
state rights? 

Young people, I must pause here. If we today yield our 
state rights, whether for National prohibition or for National 
Woman Suffrage or for any other cause, no matter how much 
many of us desire world wide prohibition, no matter and how 
many of our Northern friends desire Woman Suffrage, and other 
innovations, — I repeat, if we yield the right to state legislation 
while our negro population is so great, yes, greater in Georgia 
today than in all of the New England States and Northern 
states combined, we will have a Reconstruction Period worse 
than that which followed the War between the States. Early 
take a stand, young men, against this peril threatening us. 

Back now to our great men. Does not Georgia owe much of 
her materiał prosperity to our W. W. Gordon, of Savannah? 
Did not Fenimore Cooper say that our William Cumming was 
the finest conversationalist he had ever heard — Sir James Mc- 
Intosh not excepted? Was not our Chief Justice Joseph H. 
Lumpkin not only an eminent jurist but an orator whom nonę 
could surpass? His discussions of the principles of jurisprudence 
have been compared to those of Edmund Burkę and said to fully 
eąual them. Was not Robert Toombs responsible for establishing 
the first railroad commission in the world? Was not Thomas 
Watson "The Father of our present Rural Free Delivery"? 
Then think of Georgia's contribution to the United States 
Government. She gave members to the cabinets of George 
Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, 
James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, Zachary 
Taylor, James Buchanan, Ulysses S. Grant, Grover Cleveland 
and Woodrow Wilson. She gave two Speakers of the House, 
Howell Cobb and Charles Crisp. She has given as Ministers to 
foreign courts William H. Crawford to France, Forsyth to Spain, 
Stiles to Austria, Henry R. Jackson to Austria and to Mexico, 
J. L. M. Curry to Spain, Alexander L. Lawton to Austria, and 
Pleasant Stovall to Switzerland. 



Georgia: The Empire State of the South 15 

When Texas wanted a President for her Republic, did she not 
send for our Mirabeau Lamar? 

When Mississippi wanted a man to plan secession for them 
did she not take our L. Q. C. Lamar? 

When Alabama wanted a leader of her forces in the Spanish 
American War, did she not take our Joe Wheeler — that "wizard 
of the saddle"? 

When Louisiana wanted that wonderful piece of engineering 
done in New Orleans, did she not send for our Lamar Patterson 
of Macon? 

When Texas wished to put a dam across the Columbia River 
that would withstand the floods, did she not send for our Lamar 
Lyndon of Athens? 

When they wished the Hudson tunnelled in New York, did 
they not send for our William McAdoo of Marietta? 

When they wished to reform the city administration in New 
York, did they not choose our Joe Johnson of Atlanta? And when 
they wished to revive the Order of Acorns for this purpose, did 
they not also choose him? 

When they wanted a woman to take charge of a school for the 
higher education of the upper class of women in China, did they 
not send for our Miss Laura Haygood of Atlanta? When they 
wished to have books translated into the Chinese for these women, 
did they not get our Young J. Allen to do it? 

When the United States wished to have a commissioner for the 
First Paris Exposition, did they not choose our Madame Octavia 
Le Vert, the only woman ever so honored? 

Werę not these men and women patriots? They certainly 
were. What is a patriot? 

A true patriot seeks no reward save his country's honor and his 
country's triumph. Our Confederate Veterans are true patriots. 
They saved their country's honor, and, God bless them, they 
have lived to see their country's triumph, for the cause for which 
they fought has been acknowledged by all to have been a righteous 
cause. 

Are we teaching the children to be patriots? Are we teaching 
them to love their country and their country's flag? Are we 
teaching them to love their native state, and to try to make it 
great? Are we teaching them to be loyal to the South and to the 
things for which the South stands? Are we teaching them to 
esteem as their greatest heritage their descent from Confederate 
heroes? If we are not teaching these things, we are failing to 
do our duty. 



16 Georgia: The Empire State of the South 

The Colonial days were days of adventure and demanded 
patriotism with great faith and trust in God; the Revolutionary 
days were days of oppression and demanded patriotism with 
human endurance; the War between the States were days of 
injustice and demanded patriotism with adherence to principle 
and steadfast courage; the Reconstruction days were days of 
bitterness, persecution and humiliation and demanded patriotism 
with prudence, patience, forbearance, forgiveness and Christian 
charity ; the present day is a day of great opportunity and demands 
patriotism with loyalty to God, love for our fellowman, temper- 
ance and great morał courage. It is a day when the hearts of all 
are crying out for peace, therefore all should do the things which 
make for peace. God grant that peace may soon be established 
in the hearts of all. 

Georgians in the past measured up to her standard shall not 
Georgians of today do the same? 

Georgia's Patriots in Colonial Days. 

Were Georgians patriots in Colonial days? They certainly 
were. They actively repelled the aggressions of the Spaniards 
and resisted the oppressions of the British at Bloody Marsh. 
Were not these men patriots? Not only Oglethorpe who planned 
the attack but those Scotch Highlanders, Sutherland and Mackey, 
who madę the attack were patriots in the highest sense of the 
term. Had not that attack been madę, and madę as it was, there 
might have been no English colonies to declare their independ- 
ence. When he called together the merchants of Savannah to 
protest against the Stamp Act, was not Jonathan Bryan a patriot? 
Did not Governor Wright force him to resign from the Council 
of Safety in conseąuence? 

When the Speedwell came bearing stamps, did not 600 Georgians 
tell Governor Wright that if he allowed those stamps to be taken 
to his house that night they would burn it to the ground? You 
recall the stamps were not landed, nevertheless, Governor Wright 
was buried in effigy. 

When delegates asked to be sent to the First Continental 
Congress and Governor Wright refused because they were to 
discuss rebellion there, you recall that Lyman Hall said he would 
go as an independent delegate from St. John's Parish anyway? 

When the Boston Port Bill passed did not Archibald Bulloch, 
Noble Jones, John Houston, and John Walton issue a notice in 



Georgia: The Empire State of the South 17 

the "Georgia Gazette" that any wishing liberty were invited to 
meet at Tondee Tavern August 10, 1774? Governor Wright said 
that the meeting should not be held, but you remember it was 
held. The action of that assembly was to condemn the Boston 
Port Bill as tyranny; to proclaim the withdrawing of the charter 
from Massachusetts as subversive to America's rights; to declare 
that Parliament in England could not tax colonies in America 
and that criminals in the colonies could not be tried in England. 

That was a bold stand to take, you say. Yes, of course it was 
bold, but it takes patriots to do bold things. They dare to do 
right — that is patriotism. 

Again, when Governor Wright said that George IIL's an- 
niversary accession to the throne should be celebrated, did not 
those "Liberty Boys" spike the guns and throw them overboard, 
erect a Liberty Pole, hoist the Liberty flag, and place a cannon 
at the foot of the pole to defend it? That was bold, too, was it 
not? How brave those Liberty Boys were! 

Did not they determine that Georgia should be represented in 
the Second Continental Congress? Joseph Habersham was brave 
enough to arrest Governor Wright in his own home, and then 
these men appointed from their congress five delegates to that 
Congress, George Walton, Lyman Hall, Button Gwinnett, 
Archibald Bulloch and John Houston. 

Was not Noble Jones called "The Morning Star of Liberty"? 

Did not these Georgia Liberty Boys send the first powder to 
Bunker Hill, and send the first commissioned schooner against 
the British? Was it not 01iver Bowen and Joseph Habersham 
who seized that ship? 

Georgia's Patriots in RevoIutionary Days. 

Were Georgians patriots in the Revolutionary War? They 
certainly were. Who organized the first regiment in Georgia to 
fight for independence? Lachlan Mclntosh. For bravely re- 
pelling the British at Savannah in 1776, who was madę Brigade 
Major of Georgia Militia? James Jackson. Who received the 
keys of Savannah when the British surrendered to General Wayne? 
James Jackson. Why? "Because of his severe and fatiguing 
services in advance." Who gave him a home in recognition of 
these services? The Georgia Legislature. 

Who was the hero of Fort Morris? John Mclntosh. When 
Colonel Fraser of the British army demanded the surrender in an 



18 Georgia: The Empire State oj the South 

hour's time, what reply did he make? "Come and take it." 
Who were the heroes of Brier Creek? Mclntosh and Elbert. 
These two heroes stood their ground until every man around 
them was shot down. Who was the hero of Kettle Creek? Elijah 
Ciarkę. It was that victory that madę Cornwallis's surrender 
possible. Was not Colonel White a hero? With six men he, by 
a ruse, captured 125 British soldiers. Were not Jasper and 
Newton heroes when they released those American prisoners 
well guarded? Who was the hero of Moultrie? Sergeant Jasper. 
Who was the hero of Savannah? Samuel Davis, the father of out 
Jefferson Davis. There were 56 battles and skirmishes on Georgia 
soil during the Revolutionary War and 241 heroes lie buried 
within her borders. 

Georgia was only assessed 750 men, but she sent very nearly 
5,000. Next to Massachusetts, Georgia and South Carolina 
paid morę of the war debt than any other of the states. 

Georgia's Patriots in the Days that followed the Revolution. 

Were not Georgians patriots in the days that followed the 
Revolution? They certainly were. In the treaty at Coleraine 
who out-witted Big Warrior, the Indian chief, and saved Alabama 
and Mississippi from Spanish nile? James Jackson. This is a 
man whom Georgia has never honored sufficiently. Who was 
appointed commissioner to treat with the Indians in 1785? 
Lachlan Mclntosh. Who restored peace with the Indians on the 
western frontier? Lachlan Mclntosh. 

Georgia's Patriots in the War of 1812. 

Were Georgians patriots in the War of 1812? They certainly 
were. By cutting off the British forces from their supplies who 
became the hero at Sachett's Harbor? James Mclntosh. Who 
won the victory at Tallahassee over the Indians? General Floyd. 
Who captured the Emperor with $110,000 on board? Savannah 
troops. Was not John Ross a hero? He gave warning to the mayor 
of Savannah that Cochrane was preparing to land 1,200 men. 
Did not Southern men force this war to demand that America be 
free on sea as well as on land? Was not William H. Crawford 
the Secretary of War? Was not William Bulloch in the Senate? 
Were not George Mclntosh Troup and Thos. Telfair in Congress? 
Was not Jacob Fahm, Andrew Jackson's Quartermaster? 



Georgia: The Empire Stałe of the South 19 

Was not John McPherson Berrien, colonelof the First Regiment 
of calvary? And did he not serve during the entire war? Did 
not the Georgia Legislature appropriate $3,000 for powder? 

Georgia's Patriots in the War with Mexico 

Werę not Georgians patriots in the trouble with Mexico about 
Texas? They certainly were. Remember Fannin at Goliad! 
Remember that hollow sąuare, and how out of 300 men not one was 
left to tell the tale! Remember Seymour with his battalion of 
Georgia trooops, and Calhoun with his two battalions, and Henry 
R. Jackson with his regiment of volunteers, and Tatnall with his 
troops. Did not James Mclntosh give his life for the cause? 
Did not William Walker receive from his state a sword for bravery? 

Who was one of the heroes of Molino del Rey? James S. Mc- 
lntosh, the son of John Mclntosh, of Liberty Co. Did he not 
fali mortally wounded and die in defence of his country? Who 
was one of the heroes of Pało Alto? Who of Resaca de la Palma? 
And who was madę Major General for gallantry? Was it not our 
David E. Twiggs of Georgia? Did not Congress vote him a golden 
sword for his gallantry? Did not his native state give him another? 
Did not New Orleans give him still another? I think so. 

Georgia's Patriots in Constitutional Days 

Were not Georgians patriots in the Constitutional days? They 
certainly were. Who left the Senate of the United States to 
accept a place in Georgia's Senate in order to fight the Yazoo 
Fraud? James Jackson. Who refused to become governor of 
of his state because of his extreme youth? James Jackson. Then 
think of the many great men that Georgia gave to the United 
States Government during those da3^s, 

Georgia's Patriots in the War between the States 

Were Georgians patriots in the War between the States? If 
ever they were patriots it was then. Let us glance at Georgia's 
contribution to the Confederacy. Who madę the first secession 
speech in Georgia? Thomas R. R. Cobb. Who wrote the Ordi- 
nance of Secession? Eugenius Nisbet. Who was madę President 
of the Provisional Congress? 'Howell Cobb. Who was Vice- 
President of the Confederacy? j/Alexander H. Stephens. Who, 
Secretary of State? Robert Toombs. Who was President 



20 Georgia: The Empire State of the South 

Davis' confidential adviser? Benjamin H. Hill. Who was 
Quartermaster General? Alexander R. Lawton. Who was 
Commissary General? Isaac M. St. John. Who was assistant 
Secretary of State? William M. Browne. Who Assistant Secre- 
tary of Treasurer? Philip Clayton. Who was Assistant Secretary 
of War? John Campbell. Who was Superintendent of Public 
Printing? G. W. Nelson. Who was Naval Agent to England? 
James D. Bulloch. Who was one of the Peace Commissioners? 
Martin J. Crawford. What Georgians were of the First Confede- 
rate Congress? Francis Bartow, Augustus R. Wright, Augustus 
Kenan, Eugenius Nisbet, Thomas R. R. Cobb, Martin J. Craw- 
ford, and George W. Crawford. Who wrote the Confederate 
Constitution? T. R. R. Cobb. 

Georgia gave the first troops to Confederate service and so eager 
were these men to enter that we find three "Firsts" in the State — 
the First Regiment of Georgia Volunteers under James Ramsey, 
First Georgia Battalion under Major Peter H. Lary, and the 
First Georgia Regulars under Colonel Chas. J. Wilson. Georgia 
gave 94 regiments, 36 battalions, three Lieutenent Generals, 
eight Major-Generals, and forty-seven Brigadier-Generals. The 
last cabinet meeting was at Washington, Ga., May 4 and 5, 1865. 

There were 262 battles and skirmishes fought on Georgia's 
soil. Georgia lost morę fmancially than any other state. At the 
beginning of the war she stood 7th as to wealth, and at the close 
of the war she stood 39th of all the states. Georgia in 22 years 
paid her war indemnity and floated 4j bonds at par. The United 
States Government and the city of Boston are the only corporations 
in America that have ever eąuallcd this record. 

Was not Joseph E. Brown pronounced the most active of all the 
war governors? Did he not hołd the office of governor for four 
consecutive terms? Did he not seize Forts Pułaski and Jackson 
before Georgia seceded? 

Who was the hero of Pułaski? Col. Olmstead. Did he not 
reply to the order to surrender "I am here to hołd the Fort not 
to surrender it?" 

When Hazen took McAllister from Major Anderson, did not 
Gen. Sherman praise Georgia's sons for their brave resistance? 

Was not our Francis Bartow a hero? He was first to offer his 
troops and gave his life at Manassas, and urged his men when 
dying "not to give up the fight." 

Was not James D. Bulloch a hero when he evaded the blockade 
and brought in the largest supply of military and naval stores 
ever brought into any Confederate port? 



Georgia: The Empire State of the South 21 

Was not Wm. A. Fuller, that brave conductor, a hero when 
he recaptured "The General/' the most noted engine in history, 
after that fearful race between Marietta and Big Shanty? 

Georgia's Patriots in Reconstruction Days 

Was not Governor Jenkins a hero when he saved the executive 
seal and thousands of dollars of Georgia's money from carpet 
bag confiscation? 

Was not our Mrs. Barnett a heroinę when she hid the State's 
seal at the same time? 

Werę not other of Georgia's sons and daughters patriots in those 
Reconstruction days? Ah! that was a time when patriots were 
sorely needed. The very ground seemed to be slipping from under 
our feet and the ground was all that we had to stand upon. Had 
not the women and the children of Georgia planted a crop of corn 
as late as April and May and a loving Providence caused it to 
maturę, we would have suffered for very bread to eat. Then 
came on that carpetbag legislation which lasted 328 days and 
cost the state $1,000,000. 

Was it not Linton Stephens that stood for state rights and 
resisted that Enforcement Act and saved the clay? Did he not 
bravely denounce the XIV. and XV. Amendments as uncon- 
stitutional? Read that speech, if you have not already done so, 
the one he delivered in Macon, January 23, 1871. 

Did not Ben Hill, Robert Toombs and Howell Cobb make 
wonderfully brave speeches in 1868 standing for Constitutional 
Liberty? 

Was not Mrs. Belt a heroinę when she morę than any other 
one person caused Georgia to be re-admitted as a State? 

Then in the Spanish-American War Georgia gave morę volun- 
teers than any other state of like population. 

Know Your State. 

If we wish to be patriotic we must know our own state. I 
doubt if many of you know how many counties there are in 
Georgia, and for whom they are named. Do you know for whom 
your own county is named? I really doubt if some of you do. 
Do you know that Georgia is the only state that has a county 
named for an American woman, and she a red-headed, cross- 
eyed woman at that? No matter how much you may have travel- 



22 Georgia: The Empire Stałe of the South 

led in other countries and in other states if you are ignorant of 
your own state you will never be esteemed learned. 
These doggerel verses came to my attention — listen to them: 

He had chased the festive scarab 

On a donkey with an Arab 
Through the land of Cleopatra and the Sphinx; 

He had skirted the Canaries, 

And the shores of Buenos Ayres; 
He had climbed the Mongoł summits of the Chinks. 

There never was a hotter, 

Morę persistent old globe trotter, 
Found at any time or at any place on any map. 

From Columbus down to Peary 

In travels wide and weary 
The equal never could be found of that chap. 

But the funny thing about him 

Although you could not flout him 
When he talked of Hong Kong, Petersburg, or Romę, 

Or talked at length of Borgia, 

And the dress of any rajah. 
He knew not a blessed thing of Georgia, 

And that was the idiot's home. 

Georgia's Capitals, Seals and Flags. 

Do you know how many times the capital of Georgia has been 
changed? Twelve times. 

Although history rarely mentions any of these capitals but 
Savannah, Louisville, Milledgeville and Atlanta, yet there were 
besides these the temporary capitals of Frederica, Ebenezer, 
Augusta, Heard's Fort and Macon. Savannah in 1733; Frederica 
in 1749; Ebenezer in — ; Augusta in 1779; Heard's Fort in the 
early part of 1780; Augusta again in the latter partof 1780; 
Savannah after Cornwallis's surrender in 1781; Augusta the third 
time in 1786; Louisville in 1798; Milledgeville 1803; Macon 1865; 
Atlanta the temporary capital in 1868 during Reconstruction 
days and Atlanta the permanent capital in 1877. 

Do you know how many constitutions Georgia has had? Ten. 

In 1733 the Trustees of Georgia had a charter, and that was 
Georgia's first constitution. In 1752, when Georgia became a 
Royal Province, another constitution was necessary. Again in 



Georgia: The Empire State of the South 23 

1755 when Georgia's First Legislative Assembly met the con- 
stitution was changed. In 1777, when the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence had passed, another constitution was adopted, and this 
was the one from which the United States Constitution of 1787 
was modeled, for there first in America was suggested the legis- 
lative, the judicial and executive departments of government, and 
that constitution also outlined a policy and an appropriation for 
free schools. In 1795 the constitution was again changed. Then 
in 1799 when James Jackson was governor another constitution 
was adopted. In the constitution of 1861, secession was advo- 
cated. In 1865 a new constitution was adopted with three im- 
portant changes, secession was repealed, slavery was abolished, 
and the war debt was repudiated. In 1868 a constitution was 
adopted under carpetbag legislation, and it was this constitution 
that provided for the first system of public schools in Georgia. 
In 1877 the present constitution was adopted. 

Do you know how many seals Georgia has had? Six. The 
seal of the colonies in 1733 Non sibi sed aliis on one side and silk 
worms working industriously on the other. The Trustees des- 
troyed this seal when Georgia became a Royal Province. In 
1751 when the Assembly was held, the seal adopted was one 
with the King's Coat of Arms on one side, and on the other this 
motto, Hinc laudem sperate coloni. Around the edge were the 
words Sigillum Provinciae Nostrae Georgia in America. 

In 1754 Governor Reynolds ordered a new seal. On one side 
was Honi soit qui mai y pense (Evil be to him who evil thinks), 
and on the other side The seal of our Province of Georgia. In 
1777 after independence was declared a new seal was ordered. 
On one side was Pro bono publico (For the public good), and on 
the other side was Deus nobis haec ostia fecit (God committed to us 
these shores). In 1799 Governor James Jackson ordered a new 
seal. On one side was the Coat of Arms of Georgia with Wisdom, 
Justice and Moderation and on the other side was Agriculture 
and Commerce. This is our present seal, and is called "The Great 
Seal." In 1865 under Reconstruction rule when the great seal 
was hidden by the wife of Secretary Barnett and the State seal 
was taken to New York by Governor Jenkins, a new seal was 
ordered, purporting to be a duplicate of the great seal, but by a 
singular mistake it represented the man on the coat of arms with 
a sword in his left instead of the right hand. This seal is known 
in history as the "Bogus Seal," and is easily recognized where it 
has been usedon papers. 



24 Georgia: The Empire State of the South 

Do you know how many flags Georgia has had? Seven. It 
was in 1733 when the colony was imder a charter the English 
flag was used. In 1775 when "The Liberty Boys" took matters 
in their own hands and erected a Liberty Pole they raised a 
Liberty Flag. This was a field of blue with a white cresent in the 
left hand corner with the word Liberty in the cresent. This must 
have been Colonel Moultrie's flag which Sergeant Jasper later 
used when he gave his life in planting it at Fort Moultrie. 

In 1777 when the Betsy Ross flag, our stars and stripes, was 
adopted that became the Union flag of the colonies and Georgia 
joined with the other colonies in allegiance to it. After the 
Constitutional Convention of 1787 each state, while loyal to the 
flag of the Republic, chose their own state flag — a blue field with 
the coat of arms of each respective state upon it. For seventy- 
four years this was our flag. When in 1861 Georgia seceded, 
a white flag with a red star and on it these words, Georgia : Eąuality 
in, or Independence out of the Union. This was our secession flag 
during the War between the States. 

After Reconstruction days in 1879 by an act of the Legislature 
the flag was changed to an alternate bar of red, white and red with 
a perpendicular bar of blue to the left running through the three 
other bars. This remained until Georgia Day was inauguarted 
in 1900, through the efforts of the Joseph Habersham Chapter of 
D. A. R., and some flag maker through a misunderstanding madę 
the flags with Georgia's Coat of Arms upon it, so really the flag 
we are using now is a bogus flag. Georgia should return to her 
flag which was adopted after the Revolution and is in keeping 
with the flag of the other Thirteen Colonies. 

Georgia's Educational History. 

Now what about education in Georgia, and what about Georgia's 
high ratę as regards illiteracy? Great injustice has been done our 
state just here, and many of our own Georgia educators have 
helped on the injustice for they do not seem to know the true 
status of affairs. In seeking statistics, instead of going to the 
records of their own state they take the statistics given by authori- 
ties far removed from the seat of activity. From the landing of 
Oglethorpe to the present day the subject of education has 
always been most prominent in Georgia. Public schools were 
not needed in the South before 1865, as in the North, because, 
until after Reconstruction days, it was considered a disgrace for 



Georgia: The Empire Stałe of the South 25 

a Southern man to allow the public to educate his child, unless 
he were a pauper; but private schools and academies were numer- 
ous in the earliest days, and the children of the poor were not 
neglected. The Constitution of 1777, Georgia's first constitution, 
in the 54th section said, "Schools shall be erected in each county, 
and supported at the generał expense of the state," so schools for 
the poor were in every county. Then as early as 1783 the Georgia 
Legislature appropriated 1,000 acres of land to each county for 
the support of free schools. In 1784 it appropriated 40,000 
acres for a State University and Governor Milledge later gave 
600 additional acres. 

After the Revolutionary war colleges and academies were 
incorporated and grants of land were given by the state on con- 
dition that a permanent fund for education be established. There 
were academies in every county of Georgia endowed by the state. 
At St. Mary's in Camden County there is now one of these 
academies having still some of the funds then derived from the 
state. Richmond Academy in Augusta is another academy then 
endowed. Both of these datę from 1783. Georgia in these early 
days appropriated at one time $400,000, at another $200,000, and 
again $500,000, for education as well as giving large tracts of land 
and the money derivecl from lands confiscated from the Tories. 
Really Georgia was doing morę then for education than Georgia 
is doing today. She was in fact the first state in education and yet 
through ignorance of these facts we are allowing our friends north 
of the Potomac to make our eclucational history for us. 

How little the truth concerning the South is known even by the 
South's own people. 

Prior to 1865 the South led America in institutions of learning. 
There were three times as many colleges in the South as were in 
the New England and Middle States combined. Thomas Jef- 
ferson considered what he did for education of morę importance 
than anything else and he preferred to be called "The Father of 
the University of Virginia," to be called "The Father of the 
Declaration of Independence." Georgia has always believed in 
an educated manhood and an educated womanhood. She has 
always believed in an industrial as well as a classical education. 

She gave to the world the first State University, 1784; she gave 
to the world the first college to confer degrees upon women, 
Wesleyan, 1836; she gave the first Manuał Training School 1803; 
she gave the first free High School in United States, 1783; she 
gave a Baptist college, Mercer in 1833; she gave a Methodist 



26 Georgia: The Empire State of the South 

college, Emory in 1836; she gave a Presbyterian college, Ogle- 
thorpe in 1837, and she, next to Virginia, gave schools to Indians. 
Why her illiteracy was so high after the war can be easily ex- 
plained. Georgia's taxable property in 1861 was over $671,000,- 
000, of this amount morę than $300,000,000 was in negroes. 
Georgia's wealth at that time was greater than the combined 
wealth of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Rhode Island. 
At the close of the war the South was impoverished, while the 
North had grown rich. At the close of the war Massachusetts 
had half as much wealth as all the Southern states combined. 
When the thousands of negroes were freed in Georgia, so im- 
poverished from pillage and wanton destruction, how could she 
feed and clothe her own, much less establish and endow schools 
for white and blacks too. For many years it was a struggle for 
bread and meat, and what was true of Georgia was largely true of 
the other Southern states. Now was it not unfair when statistics 
were taken for illiteracy that no mention was madę of the con- 
ditions in the South to account for the high per cent.? I think 
so. It has also stamped the South in the eyes of this world 
as being very indifferent to education. Another injustice done 
Georgia is that if New England ever gives to negro educa- 
tion a few thousand dollars it is lauded to the skies, but nothing 
said about the thousands of dollars given annually by the state 
of Georgia for her negro education. It is marvellous, however, 
how Georgia has reacted sińce the war. 

God has smiled graciously upon the whole South but especially 
upon Georgia. Her recuperative power is without a parallel in 
the history of all nations. At the close of the war she had less 
than 1,000,000 white people, she had lost over $530,000,000 in 
property, yet in twenty years she regained it all, and in 1911 
Georgia's income from three sources was three times enough to 
pay for all the slaves freed in the South after the war. 

Georgia has paid in pensions to her Confederate soldiers over 
$11,000,000 and that is not all she should do, but it is morę 
proportionately than the other Southern states. Besides, she is 
paying her pro rata share of taxes for the Union soldiers who 
now, after fifty years, almost eąual in number the entire Con- 
federate army. 

Georgia is tired of being misrepresented, and will hereafter 
demand authority for the false statements madę concerning her, 
whether by the North or the South. 



Georgia: The Empire State of the South 27 

Georgia stood in the early days for what was unselfish, wise, 
just, honest, brave, good and tnie. She lovingly welcomed the 
stranger in her midst; she wisely planned for the education of her 
youth; her founders were men of strong religious faith; and her 
laws were binding and they were enforced. 

Georgia of Today. 

You may ask, "Is that true of the Georgia today?" In part 
it is true. Georgia is lovingly welcoming the stranger in her 
midst; Georgia's men are patriots and would today respond to 
her country 's cali as ąuickly as in the days gone by; and real 
Georgians are still men of religious faith and stand for loyalty to 
God and His word. But Georgia is not planning wisely and well 
for the education of her youth today, and she has not the excuse 
she had just after the war. Georgia is not a pauper today by 
any manner of means. Her taxable property is now rated over 
$1,500,000,000, and she can afford to give and give freely, if by 
selfishness she does not resist the tax law, which is Georgia's hope 
for increasing her educational endowments. 

The University of Georgia — the first State University in the 
world — and we should have such a pride in it — ranks Iow in 
endowments, when compared with other states, some much 
smaller and less able to endow colleges. This of course should 
not be allowed, for from its halls have come most of the men 
who have madę our state great. 

Then, too, her Agricultural College and the Branch Colleges 
which have done, and are still doing so much for the farmers of 
our land, are fearfully hampered by lack of funds. Can Georgia 
longer afford to be indifferent to this state of affairs? The farmers 
are standing in their own light not to advocate appropriations 
and handsome endowments. Our monied men of the state should 
give towards the endowment of our state educational institutions, 
as our Shorter, Inman, Candler, Scott and others have done for 
denominational colleges. Monied men in other states have given 
large sums of money to their colleges, and George I. Seney and 
George Foster Peabody have given much to Georgia. 

Then the Technological School, where our boys are being 
trained along technical and industrial lines to fit them for life, 
is being hampered in its work. This should not be. 

Do you realize that there are no infirmaries given by the state 



28 Georgia: The Empire Stałe of the South 

to any one of our State institutions? It really seems, does it not, 
that Georgia cares little for her boys and girls. It is true there is 
an infirmary at the Technological School, but who put it there? 
The Woman's Club of Atlanta. It is true we have a smali but not 
adequate infirmary at the University — our Dr. Crawford W. 
Long Memoriał. But who put it there? The Woman's Club of 
Athens. Who largely furnished it? The D. A. R. of Athens. 

The Law Department of the University has never had a building 
of its own, yet some of Georgia's greatest jurists have had their 
training there. Is this right or just to withholcl from them their 
due? The Medical college also needs money. There our young 
men are being trained to look after the bodies of our people, 
and we should surely see that they have what they need. Equip- 
ment does not grow on trees. 

Our State Normal colleges, where the futurę teachers of our 
state are being trained, should be very liberally endowed. Hun- 
dreds of girls and boys are being turned away every year for 
lack of accommodation. The Industrial college for our negroes 
is hampered by lack of money. How can we expect well-trained 
servants in domestic and industrial lines if we do not meet these 
needs? Our High Schools are not adeąuately equipped by our 
cities. It is there that we are fitting them for college entrance. 
If poorly prepared they suffer and the state suffers in conseąuence. 
A city has no greater asset than its boys and girls. Now what 
about our elementary schools in town and country? Should we 
not furnish longer terms in the country schools and better paid 
teachers everywhere? I think so, for it is not economy to get 
poor teachers, and our best teachers demand a fair salary. But 
for the women's clubs and patriotic societies our mountain young 
people would have no school opportunities beyond a three months 
school, and these, too, are our State's children. 

I have always advocated an equal salary for a woman doing 
the same amount of work as a man, and I am not for Woman 
Suffrage either — but I am for justice now and forever. 

You ask why is our state behind in these matters when she 
should be first? I wish I had an answer for you. The Georgia 
Legislature too often gets the blame which I think belongs rather 
to the individual voter. If a man is elected for a representative, 
is he not too often instructed how to vote? The penalty being 
if he does not vote to suit his constituents, they will not return 
him the following year. This is politics. Is there any freedom 



Georgia: The Empire State of the South 29 

then given to the members of the Georgia Legislature? If men of 
sense and honor are elected the constituents should have confidence 
►enough to trust their judgment. The individual voter should be 
unselfish enough to be personally taxed, if it will be to the best 
interest of our state. Young men, thafs being a patriot. I 
think all selfish people ought to move out of Georgia. They are 
aliens and have no right here. Remember our motto Non sibi 
sed aliis. My, we have a right to be so proud of our educational 
institutions, then why should they be hampered by niggardly 
appropriations? W hen you get to the Georgia Legislature see to 
this, I beg you. 

Again, you may ask, "Are Georgia's laws as binding and as 
well enforced as they were formerly"? They certainly are not. 
"Why?" The good law is often madę, but here again the individual 
voter puts men in office who wilfully violate the law. Take for 
one instance the Prohibition Law. The Georgia Legislature 
passed that law, and the Governor endorsed it, so they cannot be 
blamed. Why then is the law not enforced? The individual 
voters, who want the law broken, band together to put men in 
office who are willing to violate it. You often hear this said, 
"Prohibition does not prohibit." Whenever you hear this, ask 
"Did you vote for the man who wished the law enforced?" If 
he did then reply "Are you using your efforts to have the law 
enforced or are you standing off criticizing those who are working 
against it?" I have yet to see any one who really wishes the law 
strictly enforced make that statement. When they have by their 
vote put men in office who will not enforce the law, they certainly 
show clearly they did not wish it to prohibit. 

No, if Georgians will stand for what is just and honest and 
true, there will be no lynchings in our state, no criminals in our 
state, no drunkards in our state, nor will the women of Georgia 
have need to demand the baliot to get the things they wish. 

Injustice has long been done Georgia in regard to the number 
of crimes committed in our state as compared with other states. 
While Georgia has morę negroes than all the New England and 
other Northern states combined, yet the World's Almanac shows 
that to every 1,000 inhabitants in Georgia there are only 108 
criminals, while in Massachusetts there are to that same number 
of inhabitants 187 criminals, and in New York there are 125. 
So not only our white population in Georgia but our negroes have 
been shamefully villified. 



30 Georgia: The Empire Stałe of the South 

Chambers of Commerce are being organized in many of our 
cities in order to present true statistics. They are also urging a 
spirit of co-operation between our cities. This is a good work and 
deserves encouragement, for so long as bickerings and jealousies 
exist, whether between persons, cities or states, therewillbestrife, 
and nothing great can ever be accomplished. Pride in State, town 
and county is commendable, but it should not make us envious. 

Young people of Georgia, great as Georgia has been in the past, 
and great as she is today, she can be greater, if only you make her 
great by becoming great yourself. The gifts that were in your 
fathers are in you — use those gifts. 

Young men of the University, you are soon to enter the arena 
of public life. Upon you will your state depend to make her laws 
and have them enforced. I beg you to stand for what is right and 
just and true and pure. Never seek office but let the office seek 
you. 

Young women of the Normal School, have lofty ideals and 
put to scorn those who do not live up to these ideals. Our state 
needs noble manhood and noble womanhood, and the hope of 
the futurę is in you. You will have the training of some of the 
youth of this generation, and the shadows your lives cast will in 
large measure be the shadows in which these young people will 
walk. Follow no false ideals of greatness. True greatness is the 
goodness that lives. 

Macaulay said, "A people which takes no pride in the noble 
achievements of their ancestors will never achieve anything 
worthy to be remembered by their descendants." 

Have you an ambition to be great? Then do noble deeds not 
dream them. 

Remember a state cannot measure her wealth in taxable 
property. Her real treasures are her men and women. Georgia's 
greatness is not in her climate and not in her soil — it is in her 
people. 

Thank God for the character of the men from whom you 
sprung — their genius, their enterprise, their brains, their trust 
in God. Prepare yourselves to emulate their example. 

I have told you many wonderful things about Georgia, but 
the half has not yet been told. 

I have visited many countries and have mingled with many 
cultured men and women of those countries. I have visited many 
states in our own land, and have met the representative men 



Georgia: The Empire State of the South 31 

and women of those states, but nowhere have I found morę 
cultured men and women than I have found in my own old 
Georgia. 
Do you ask me if I love her? Love her? 

"I love her rills her old red hills, 
Her pine trees evergreen, 
And when I die I hope to lie 
Beneath her sylvan scenes." 



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